New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-05
TURPITUDE NEEDING A CHECK.

Turpie of Indiana, is not a Senator but
claimant. He will present himself with GER
tiGcate signed by the Democratic Governor
it is true, but that is not tho only evidence
which the laws and the Senate require. The
duly appointed presiding officer of the JOINT
convention, by which it is pretended he was
elected, who was presiding over the body at
the time, viii certify to tho Senate, as he de-
clarcd in the convention, that there was no
election The financial officers OF the State
will refuse to recognize as legally organized
the Senate which took part in the vote.
The Lieutenant-Governor elected by the peo-
ple last November having been frauduently
excluded from his rights as President of the
Senate, will offer his protest. The Republican
members Of both House and Senate will protest
that the expulsion of Senator law
fully elected by the people was IL
legal and that the seating of another.
who had no right to place in that body, gave
the one more vote required to make Turpie
pretended majority. All these questions will
have TO he passed upon, not by caucus Of
law-hreakers. but by the Senate of the United
States, before this fraud can reap its reward.
| 1t is most desirable that this peculiarly I'M
pudent attempt to steal a seat In the Senate
should be met at the very threshold with cf-
fective rebuke The control of the Senate for
two wears is not the only stake Even if, be-
sides Reagan. of Texas, and the West Virginia
Senators not yet chosen, the Democrats could
seat claimants from Indiana and Ncw-Jcrscy
they would have only thirty members,
while the Republicans have thirty-cght with
out and thirty-nine with Mr.. Riddlcbcrger BY
voting with the Democrats Mr.. Mddlebcrgcr
could only make tie. But two years hence
the terms Of twenty-siX Senators VIII expire
of whom twelve are from Southern States and
all Democrats Mr.. Mcpherson is from New
Jersey, Mr.. Rddebcrgcr is from Virginia, and
Senators are also to be elected from Colorado.
Oregon, Minnesota and Ncw-llampshirc. 1t needs
little forecast TO see that, if claimants are seated
10 make tie this year, enough other frauds
will lie pcrpetratcd to secure control of the Sen
ate after the next Presidential election. Al
ready the Senate has suffered seats TO lie stolen
by fraud and assassination in Alabama
Georgia Louisiana. Mississippi and South Car
DINA, and Democrats are expected to carry
these seats without doubt two years hence. If
allowed to steal two Northern seats by fraud
this year, there are Democrats who will stop at
4
Senators must realize that il is time to put
an end to this business. They have listened
with a comfortable indifference much too long
to accounts of crimes in Southern States, by
which the righful power Of the people has
been greatly abridged. This year and last
desperate struggles hate produced an epidemic
Of crimes In Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and New
jersey. II the Senate goes on admitting Great
ures OF fraud to seats one after another. it will
cease to represent the will of the people within
about two years. The place TO begin indignant
and unflinching resistance is when the fraud
ulent claimant from Indiana presents himself
asking a right to WELD as much power in the
government of this country as a Senator Of
undoubed right from New York, Pennsylvania
or Ohio. Mr. Turpie, the claimant, ought TO he
told to 60 back and get elected by valid
Legislature representing the people, if he can.
When treason threatened the Government
in 1861, It cost Senators something OF a wrench
to put out Bright and Fitch, Of Indiana, rs
unfit for seats in that body. Either OF these
expelled members had far better right to sit
and vote in the Senate than Mr. Turpie, who
comes as the creature Of crime alone The
rebellion against law, in which the later De-
mocracy Of 1887 is engaged, does not make
the mistake Of retiring from the Senate with
nose in air; it stays and helps to gather other
fruits Of fraud-to admit other prctcnders as
fast as the people in the different States can lie
robbed Of their rights. This has gone far
enough, and the new kind Of rebellion needs
to be arrested in the fragrant case of Turpic
from Indiana.